The Israeli Public Sphere from Phone-ins to Digital Commentary

How Media Participation Shapes Political Discourse

Gonen Dori-Hacohen (Autor)

Buch | Hardcover

142 Seiten

2026
Routledge (Verlag)
978-1-041-20827-3 (ISBN)

Noch nicht erschienen (ca. März 2026)
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This study examines the transformation of Israel's public sphere through two distinct communicative arenas: radio phone-ins and online commenting (Tokbek).

Using ethnomethodology and discourse analysis, the author reveals how these sites function as institutions where ordinary citizens engage with political topics, tracing a shift from rational community-based discussion to polarized identity-driven exchanges. The radio phone-in emerges as a space closely aligned with Habermas's vision of a functional public sphere, where listeners reasonably discuss social issues within a community framework. In contrast, the Tokbek presents an opportunity for anonymous participants to express extreme political views while disparaging opposing perspectives, exemplifying what the author terms "inverted identity politics." Beyond documenting this transformation, this book explores the structural factors behind the shift, considering both Israel's unique context and broader neoliberal influences. The analysis reveals how the fragmentation of Israeli society, declining hope regarding the Israeli-Arab/Palestinian conflict, and the transition from welfare state to neoliberal economy, have collectively reshaped public discourse.

This book offers valuable insights for scholars of media studies, political discourse analysis, Israeli society, and online participation.

Gonen Dori-Hacohen is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, USA.

Preface

Chapter 1. Towards an Ethnomethodology of the Public Sphere

Chapter 2. The Phone-in and its Israeli Community

Chapter 3. Discussing Solvable Social Problems

Intermission: From Radio Phone-In to Tokbek

Chapter 4. The Tokbek and Non-Existing Identities

Chapter 5. Presenting Extreme Unreasonable Positions

Chapter 6. The Structural Deformation of the Israeli Public Sphere

PostScript: This Book and October 8th

References

Index

Erscheint lt. Verlag	25.3.2026
Reihe/Serie	Routledge Focus on Communication and Society
Zusatzinfo	6 Tables, black and white
Verlagsort	London
Sprache	englisch
Maße	138 x 216 mm
Themenwelt	Sozialwissenschaften ► Kommunikation / Medien ► Kommunikationswissenschaft
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Kommunikation / Medien ► Medienwissenschaft
	Sozialwissenschaften ► Politik / Verwaltung
ISBN-10	1-041-20827-8 / 1041208278
ISBN-13	978-1-041-20827-3 / 9781041208273
Zustand	Neuware